John Carl Whitton Jr.

Born in 1926, he was a seventh-generation Floridian and grew up on the family farmstead in Holmes County. John, also known as Jim, Jimmy, Uncle Jim or Whit, graduated from Ponce de Leon High School in 1943, and worked at Wainwright Shipyard in Panama City. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy as an Aviation Radioman on torpedo bombers. The GI Bill allowed him to attend university, graduating from Florida State University with a BS in chemistry. He later obtained a Juris Doctor at Florida State University and became a member of The Florida Bar as well. John worked for the Florida Department of Agriculture, retiring as Chief of the Bureau of Petroleum Inspection.

John married the former Etta Mae Curry, and together they raised a family in Tallahassee. After Etta Mae’s death in 1983 he met and formed a long term committed relationship with Elinor Elfner, which relationship continued until his death.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Etta Mae Whitton; his son, Robert Mark Whitton; and his brother, Hulon Whitton(Inez). He is survived by daughter, Sharon Whitton (John Impagliazzo); son, Jeff Whitton (Renee); his Domestic Partner, Elinor Elfner and her children Whit, Eric, and Karen. Other survivors include five granddaughters: Carrie Ayers, Chrissy Ayers, Elizabeth Whitton, Ellen Ball (Jack), and Katherine Whitton. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Skylar Ayers-Marini, Jimmy Ball, and Edy Ball. Additionally, he is survived by a special sister-in-law, Ellen Hall, and her two daughters, Julie Fisher (Bill) and Jenny Snuffer, and many cherished nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled to take place at the Elks Lodge 276 Magnolia Drive Tallahassee on December 11, at 11:30 A.M. All attendees will be encouraged to share their stories of John, Jimmy, Whit, Dad, Granddaddy, Uncle Jim, Friend John or however you know him. The family kindly requests each attendee be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect the immunocompromised and young children in attendance.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to the charity of your choice, or personal favorites of John’s: the Robert Mark Whitton Scholarship Fund at Tallahassee Community College, 444 Appleyard Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32304 or the Friends of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks Refuge Association, P. O. Box 368, St. Marks, FL 32355.